Best study tips according to research

By Dr. Ketaki Pawar Chavan (MDS, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon)

We are all different people. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to learning. The best way to learn is the one that works for you and gets you good results. An important thing is to never copy someone else’s method of studying or compare your method with theirs. Your friend might be able to study with headphones and light background music but that may not necessarily work for you. There is nothing wrong with you if you are the only student who just cannot study in a library. You have to find out where you thrive. So, try out different ways of learning and quickly determine your path and stick to it. 


1.      Desirable difficulties:

Did you know research says that when you study in an environment that is distracting or noisy, you should increase the difficulty level of the task ahead of you? It's called “desirable difficulty”. Sounds counterintuitive, right? But researchers say that this can facilitate memory and problem solving because it causes the students to use deeper processing strategies. This term “desirable difficulty” was first coined by Robert A. Bjork in 1994 who was a UCLA psychologist. He introduced the concept as an experience that makes learning more difficult, allowing students to form stronger connections. According to him, as the difficulty of the task increases, learning also increases because it challenges the learner to achieve his optimum performance.


How do we apply this to our situation? In a place where you cannot concentrate, start studying a difficult topic. As you struggle to understand it, you will get engrossed in it and, you will automatically tune out the external distractions. I don’t recommend that you should purposefully say to your roommates or family members, “Make some noise, guys!” I think that this technique should be reserved for special occasions when you cannot control your external environment. So, no more excuses for not studying!

 

 

2.      Spaced repetition:

It simply means studying daily and not at the last moment. I am guilty of this myself. I used to learn most of the stuff one or two days before exams. Anyone who has done this knows how hard and stressful it is. It makes you miserable during the exam period.

Spaced repetition means learning that occurs over multiple sessions at different points in time.

Look at this graph. This is a typical forgetting curve for newly learned information. Notice that as you review the information leaving a gap of a few days in between, the information gets stored in your long-term memory.

 

Cramming                 ---        short term memory

Spaced repetition    ---        long term memory

 

The information we get from learning should go into our long-term memory because we will need it for the rest of our lives if we are to treat our patients the best way. Imagine your mother/father/family member sitting in the dental chair of your clinic. They deserve treatment done by the best dentist, don’t they? So, you have to become that dentist! 

How do we apply this technique?

This technique is usually applied using flashcards.

They have a front and a back. You have to write the question on the front and, on the back, you have to write the answer. So, this technique is useful for remembering certain facts which are too difficult to remember. It works great for mnemonics too.

There is a method called the ‘Leitner system’ for using flashcards. In this method, flashcards are sorted into groups according to how well the learner knows each one in Leitner's learning box. The learners try to recall the solution written on a flashcard. If they can answer the question on the flashcard, they send the card to the next box. If they fail, they send it back to the first box. Each succeeding box has a longer period before the learner is required to revisit the cards. 


3.      Interleaving:

It is a process where students mix or interleave, multiple subjects or topics while studying to improve their learning. It is different from ‘Blocked practice’ which involves studying one topic during the whole study session.

In dentistry, many times, two subjects are closely interrelated, like Oral pathology and Oral medicine or Dental materials and Prosthodontics or Conservative dentistry. So, interleaving is a useful technique for dental students.

 

How can you apply this technique?

·        You should choose several topics and spread them throughout your study sessions. The topics can be from the same or different subjects, but some experts believe that this strategy is most beneficial when the subjects are related somehow.

·        Changing things up will force you to retrieve information and make new connections between the topics. For example, ask yourself, “How is this topic in Oral Surgery related to what I just studied in Oral Medicine?” Eg. OSMF is a topic that is studied in Oral Pathology, Oral Surgery as well as Oral Medicine. So, you can study all of the three subjects in one study session. It is important to devote enough time to each topic to ensure that a deeper understanding is achieved each time the topic is studied.

·        Be careful not to use interleaving as an excuse to switch to another subject when the current subject becomes too challenging. Instead, you should persist in one subject until you thoroughly understand the topic and are satisfied with your learning before moving on to another subject.

4.      Dual coding:

Dual-coding theory is a theory of cognition, which was hypothesized by Allan Paivio of the University of Western Ontario in 1971. While developing this theory, Paivio used the idea that the formation of mental images aids learning. It means studying a topic through multiple forms of media. For example, combining words and visuals such as pictures, diagrams, etc. You can read about the topic from the textbook, watch a video about it and, create an Instagram post about it!

5.      Retrieval practice:

This is one of the most effective methods of revision. It has been shown to improve retention and recall.

Methods of retrieval practice:

·        Past papers: By doing past papers, you can use retrieval practice with content that is directly relevant to your studies and exams.

·        Multiple choice questions:  When you start revising a topic, instead of just restudying the information, try to solve practice questions first. It is known as active recall.

·        Essay answers: Practice answering long answer questions.

·        Answering a question aloud: When you are doing past papers, try to answer the question aloud. It makes you think about the information differently and make quick connections under pressure. In addition, it is immensely helpful for viva voce. You can practise it with your classmates too.

 Testing yourself with flashcards

6.      Breathing exercises:

Breathing exercises can keep you focused on the entire study session. I felt the effects of breathing exercises being close to the effects of having a coffee (without the addictive effects and post-caffeine crash/anxiety). Before every study session, practice breathing exercises for 5 minutes. They are shown to improve concentration and memory. Anulom Vilom (Alternate nostril breathing), Bhramari (Humming bee breath), and Kapalbhati (Skull shining breath) are the best breathing exercises for students

Action steps

 

1)     Apply all of the research-based study strategies mentioned in this chapter and find out the one that helps you the most.

 

2)     Learn at least one breathing exercise today.

 

3)     Practice it for 5 minutes.


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